Winter Fishing Update: Poudre River

After the recent cold front, the Poudre Canyon is nearly iced over, but with the snowfall, we have seen better flows in Town (60 CFS) and on the North Fork (8 CFS). Concentrate on fishing the slower-moving water under the ripple and deeper pools. With the colder temperatures, nymphing small midges will be the most productive method of fishing. Consider small midge and baetis patterns (Sizes #20-24). One of our most productive rigs has been a weighted nymph rig with a zebra midge or a poison tongue as the lead fly, followed by emerging midge patterns like a Top Secret Midge Mayhem Midge. Consider altering your weight, before trying to tie another tiny fly on. The cold, crystal-clear water means the fish are moving less, sitting deep and the fishing is more technical. Use smaller leader and tippet (5x-7x) along with smaller or even yarn indicators to avoid alerting the fish. These smaller indicators can make a real difference because they create less disturbance on the surface of the water.